Improved machine for opening tin cans



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEreE.

W. K. BALDWIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED MACHINE FOR OPENING TIN CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,668, dated May 15, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. K. BALDWIN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a Machine for Opening Tin Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective representation of my lnachine for opening tin cans. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient device by means of which the common tin can, used for preserving meats and fruits, can be held in a firm position and a suitable opening made for taking out the contents of the can.

The difficulty heretofore experienced has been in keeping the can in the proper position for operation. This difficulty is obviated, in using' my machine, by means of an adjustable frame or clamp which holds the can while an opening is made of any required size by means of a knife attached to an adjustable lever.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my machine, I will describe the method of construction and operation.

A shows the substantial bed or platform to which my device is attached, and may be made of either wood or iron.

B represents the strong iron standard, secured firmly to the platform A by means of common screws put through the foot D, as seen at F. The side of this standard against which the can is placed is made concave, so as to fit the surface of the same.

V shows the guides secured to edges of the standard B, which support the clamp P. This clamp is made circular, as seen at 3, so as to conform to the side of a round can, and also has the elbows 2 for holding a rectangular can.

4 shows the rear part of the clamp, through which the screw Z operates, when adjusting the clamp l?, so as to hold the can firmly while the opening is being made.

U shows the slots which allow the clamp P to be adjusted to suit the different sizes of cans.

C shows the wheel attached to the end of the screw Z, used in operatin g the screw when adjusting the clamp I.

X represents the socket attached to the standard B, in which the end of the screw Z revolves when operating the clamp P. This screw is secured to the standard B by means of the plate R and a common screw.

G represents the part attached to the back of the standard B, through which the lower part of the hinge H is operated when it is required to raise or lower the knife M to suit the diiferent lengths of cans. The hinge H is held in position by means of a pin put through the holes 5.

E shows the part through which the bar K operates when adjusting the knife to cut different-sized holes in the can, and is attached to the upper part of the hinge H by means of the bolt 6, so as to allow it to be turned over and raise the bar K sufficiently to allow a can to be placed in the clamp l?. The bar K may be held in place by means of the setscrew L.

W shows the pin, attachedto the bar K near the end, upon which the lever O turns when cutting the plate of the can. 7 shows the key passing through the pin W, holding the lever O in place.

M shows the common knife, the shank of which passes through the slotT, and may be secured at any point in the same by mea-ns of the screw S and nut N.

Operation: In order to use my invention it is first necessaryhto elevate the bar K and lever O, as shown by the dotted lines Y 9. The can must then be putin the clamp I), as shown by the redV lines l0, and tightened by means of the screw Z. The knife must then be forced downward through the plate of the can by pressing down upon the lever O. The plate will be cut by forcing the lever O in the direction indicated by the dart l1.

Having thus described my device, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The arrangement and combination of the standard B, clamp I, and guides V, when constructed and operated substantially as described.

2. The combination of the parts H, G, and E, in combination with the bar K and lever O, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

GEO. L. OHAPIN, A. L. OEAPIN. 

